Can-cleaner



BIO/563,505. Patented July 7, 1896.

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H. MGGORNAGK.

CAN CLEANER.

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H. MOOORNAGK. GAN CLEANER.

N0.,563,5O5. Patented July 7, 1896 TNE yiomus vznzas co. mumuwa.wnsnmomm u.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT MCCORNACK, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

CAN-CLEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,505, dated July '7,1896.

Application filed January 27, 1894. Serial No. 498,253. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT MGGORNACK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Milk-Oan-Scouring Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of machines forscouring and rinsing milk-cans in which is employed a rotary handleprovided with a brush at the end inserted into the can.

My primary object is to provide a construction of the brush device onthe insertion end of the rotary handle whereby it shall be readilyadjustable to make the desired scouring contact with all parts of theinterior surface of the can, and particularly the scams or corners, andalso the constricted or shoulder and neck and funnel-mouth portions. Myobject is also to provide a peculiarly simple and desirable constructionof brush for use in my improved machine; and it is fur.-

ther my object to provide an especially desirable novel construction ofstand for supporting a milk-can while undergoing the washing operationwith the brush apparatus, also having its bearing on the stand.

My invention consists in the general construction of my improvedcan-scouring machine; and it also consists in details of constructionand combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view inlongitudinal sectional elevation, showing my improved machine as itappears in operation. Fig. 2 is a section taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view of the end ofthe brush device which is inserted into the can. Fig. 4 is a sectiontaken at the line 4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.Fig. 5 is a view of one of the brushes, representing the manner offorming it and showing it separate from the holder. Fig. 6 is asectional view, partly broken, the section being taken at the line 6 6on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a view,mainly in longitudinal section through the handle portion of the brushdevice, showing the internal rotary and lengthwise-reciprocating brushadjust ing and operating stem and the means for reciprocating it. Fig.Sis a section taken at the line 8 on Fig. 7 and viewed in the directionof the arrow.

A is the scouring device, the preferred construction of which is thatillustrated and described as follows:

On one end of a bearing, shown as and affording a tubular handle B, isswiveled a nipple 1', having a disk head 0", through the center of whichpasses the operating-stem O in the handle and which should be mainlycylindrical in shape but rectangular in crosssection, as shown, where itpasses through the head 7" in order to cause the latter to rotate withit and permit the stem to be readily reciprocated longitudinally throughit. The end of the stem adjacent to the swivel connection with thetubular handle is fastened in the socket q of a spider, the divergingarms 19 of which incline slightly forward and terminate in cross-heads0. (See, particularly, Fig. 3.)

D represents the brush-holder, of which three are illustrated, thoughany desired number-thus fewer or more-may be employed without departurefrom my invention, provided the connection thereof with the stem 0 besuch as to adapt it or them to be r0- tated therewith and swingpivotally back and forth in the direction lengthwise of the handle. Eachbrush-holder comprises a socket 1), shown as substantially rectangularin shape, though of course the shape should be such as to conform tothat of the brush m it is provided to hold, whatever that may be. Eachsocket D is flanked by rearward-extending converging arms Z, betweenwhich is pivotally fastened one end of a link Z, hooked at its oppositeend into the swiveled nippler,

and the cross-head 0 on each arm 19 extends between the adjacent sidesof a pair of the brushsockets and is pivotally fastened thereto.

The preferred construction of the brushm is that illustrated in Fig. 5,comprising an originally straight bunch of the brush material,(bristles, broom-corn, or the like,) bent upon it elf at the center andstitched and the bend, into the socket D and ed. The end of the brush onis cut to the V shape illustrated to present expanded surfaces, atopposite sides of the apex, to the can'surface when they are brought tobear against the latter, while, when ex tended to enter the scams orcorners of the can, the wedge shape of the brush end adapts the latterto be compressed the better into the seams, thus enabling the brush tobe applied the more thoroughly. On one side of each socket 1), Ifurthermore provide, for a purpose hereinafter explained, a smallersupplemental brush, comprising a socket D in the form of alongitudinally-slotted tube, into which, from one end, the brush on,formed like the brush m, but smaller, is inserted and fastened, as bydriving a nail a between the folds near the bend, to spread them apartand thus wed go the brush in its socket, which should be pivotallyfastened to its holder D.

The stem C extends through the outer end of the tubular handle 13, whereit is provided with an operating crank-handle E, if the ma chine is tobe operated by hand, or with any other suitable operating means. Nearits outer end the tube B has a longitudinal slot 7:, coincident withwhich is a rack 2', Fig. 7, on the stem confined endwise between collars1", whereby it may be rotated without interference from the rack, and apinion h is supported to engage the rack (and bears against the latterto hold it in place) in a bearing h on the handle B and is provided withan operating-handle h. The rack 2' projects through the slot from atubular body 7L3, surrounding the stem Cinside the hollow handle B, andthe collars i, which are fast upon the stem, bear against the tubularbody of the rack at its opposite ends to confine it against independentsliding movement.

As a convenient medium for the applica tion of my improved can-scouringimplement, (though it maybe differently applied without departure frommy invention,) I provide a stand F, having a top F inclined to a degreethat will support a milk-can G, imposed thereon (with its rear portionresting on a concave seat g, its upper band tresting on a bearingstrip gand one of thehandles o confined between a pair of lateral stops g inposition to extend its longitudinal center in about a horizontal plane,in line with which, on the higher end of the top, is a bearing f for thehandle B. About at the point of the top F, to which the mouth 6 of thecan reaches, I provide a basin F to prevent slopping over of thecleansing-water and having an outlet-pipe 61 extendin g downward from itto direct the water into any suitable receptacle (not shown) placed inposition below the stand. At the dish is also sh own a vertical annularstationary band F to receive the flaring mouth of the can, which is heldin place at its base end by a spring-catch c on the bearing g.

YVith a milk-can placed to be scoured in the position indicated in Fig.1 and the scouring implement adjusted loosely in its bearing f, thesecuring operation is performed as follows, with water introduced intothe can: The radial limit of extent of the brushes 011, when at rightangles with the stem 0, is such as to cause them to bear against theinner side of the cylindrical portion of the can, and to bring them tothat position the stem 0 is .moved longitudinallyin the proper directionby turning the pinion h, whereby the pivotal spider or hinge connectionsof the stem with the brush-holders I) work them on the pivotalconnections of the arms '1 with the links 1.). These connections, aswill be seen, enable the rotation of the stem C to freely rotate thebrush device while the tubular handle B may be moved longitudinally backand forth, and thus the brushes thoroughly scour the interior of themilk-can, and they also enable, by longitudinal reciprocation of thestem, while rotating it, the radial direction of extension of thebrushes m with relation to the stem as their center, to be varied to anydesired point within the nearly one hundred and eighty degrees of theircapacity of adjustment, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. Thusthe brushes may all be caused to extend inward with relation to the canparallel with the stem, when they would all be bunched together forsecuring the can-bottom. Then they may be caused to flare toward thecanbottom at such an angle as to introduce them into the seam or annularcorner junction between the base and cylindrical body of the can. Bycausing them to flare in the opposite direction they may be extendedinto the corner forming the junction between the cylindrical body andconical shoulder portion 2), and by still further contracting them andwithdrawing the handle, so as to bring them against the surface of theconical shoulder portion, it may be thoroughly scoured. To scour theinterior of the neck portion Z) of the can, the handle B is withdrawn tobring the brushes m into that part; but they are then adjusted to extendparallel with the handle in the backward or outward direction, in whichposition the scouring is performed by the supplemental brushes m, thepivotal fastening of which adapts them the better for the work.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A can-scouring machine having a handle provided with a rotatable andlongitudinally-reciprocable brush-actuating stem, a rack connected withthe stem as the medium for effecting its reciprocation, a pinion mounted011 the handle and engaging the rack, and a brush device adj ustablysupported on the stem to be actuated by its reciprocation, substantiallyas described.

2. A can-scouring machine having a handle provided witha rotatable andlongitudinally-reciprocable brush-actuating stem, a rack connected withthe stem as the medium for elfecting its reciprocation,a pinion mountedon the handle and engaging the rack and a brush device hinged to thestem and adjustable to different angles with relation to the stem byreciprocating it, substantially as described.

3. A can-scouring machine having a tubular handle containing a rotatableand longitudinally-reciprocable brush-actuating stem, a rack connectedwith the stem in the handle to move said stem longitudinally withoutobstructing its rotary motion and protruding through a longitudinal slotin said handle, a pinion mounted on the handle and engaging the rack,and a brush device hinged to the stem and adjustable to different angleswith relation to the stem by reciprocating it, substantially asdescribed.

4. A can-scouring machine having a tubular handle provided at one endwith a swivele'd nipple, a rotatable and longitudinallyreciprocablebrush-actuating stem provided with means for reciprocating it andpassing through the handle and nipple and in engagement with the latter,and a series of brushes in holders hinged to the stem and linked to thenipple to cause reciprocation of the stem to adjust them at differentangles with relation thereto, substantially as described.

5. A can-scouring'machine, having a tubular handle provided at one endwith a swiveled nipple, a rotatable and longitudinallyreciprocablebrush-actuating stem provided with means for reciprocating it andpassing through the handle and nipple and in engagement with the latter,a series of brushes in holders hinged to the stem and linked to thenipple to cause reciprocation of the stem to adjust them at differentangles with relation thereto, and supplemental brushes on the saidholders, substantially as described.

6. A can-scouring machine comprising, in combination, a tubular handleB, having at one end a swiveled nipple a rotatable andlongitudinally-reciprocable brush-actuating stem 0 passing through thehandle and nipple and in engagement with the latter and provided with arack i protruding through a slot in the handle from its tubular bodyportion it at which it surrounds and is confined on the stem, a pinionit supported on the handle to engage the rack, and a series of brushdevices, comprising holders D containing brushes and provided with armsZ connected by links ZWith the nipple, and a spider connected at itssocket with the stem and having its arms hinged to the brush-holders,substantially as described.

7. In combination, a scouring device A and a milk-can stand F having aninclined top F provided at one end with a rest g, a bearing f for thescouring device at the opposite end of the top, intermediate bearings gand g and a basin F having an outlet, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

HERBERT MOOORNACK.

In presence of- M. J. FRos'r, W. U. WILLIAMS.

